Alan’s Backyard August 6

I’ve lived in Portland Oregon for ten years now and the summer of 2013 has really produced some amazing days with very little rain and lots of sun! Alan’s backyard is peaking at this time of the season and is a great place for friends to meet.

This giant chimney is a focal point for the backyard and it holds three of the pots I planted.

The mantle pot contains red cordyline, red verbena, 'Sundance Yellow' sanvitalia and 'Star Dust' euphorbia.

The left chimney pot contains red petunia, yellow calibrachoa and 'Star Dust' euphorbia. The right chimney pot contains orange petunia, tangerine calibrachoa and 'Star Dust' euphorbia. All the chimney pots were designed to simulate fire, but due to lack of sun these annuals burnt out more often then popped with their hot and bright colors. 

I big part of the accents in the backyard comes in the form of many flowerpots often full of or surrounded by impatiens that thrive well in this shady garden.

Alan’s backyard has some well established plants.

Fatsia japonica, on the right, and Japanese maple frame this bed with a climbing hydrangea on the trellis against the wall.

Jasmine with two pots of Impatiens

 

Windmill Palm

Banana Palm

  

Alan had a birthday over the summer and I gave him this fountain to add form and sound to his backyard. Alan placed it in a planter of ivy to give it height. The little puppy reminded me of Cooper, Alan's dog. Where is Cooper anyway? Usually he's poked his head into a picture by now.

This honeysuckle I planted has had a rough summer fighting aphids. The ladybugs I released in Ladybugs Attack! Part 2 seemed to have successfully controlled them.

Time to say goodbye to this little urban paradise.

There’s Cooper! One-track mind.

Alan’s Front Yard August 6

I started planting accent plants in Alan's front yard on May 22 and again on May 25. I checked back in with a follow up post on June 26 and after this visit we see how well Alan's garden thrives. 

This 'False Goat’s Beard’ astilbe I planted is done blooming for the season. You can barely see, in the background, the ‘Lucifer’ crocosmia, also done blooming, is starting to fade.

The Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ I planted in the raised bed along the parking strip is doing well and reaching for the sky.

The variegated vinca trails it’s long vines, but I had imagined many vines draping over the retaining wall between the front yard and the driveway. This was not the case and it may take a while for the small plants to get established. I believe they will provide nice ground cover for the winter, but may eventually prove too evasive for the small garden.

Last year Alan planted purple and white alyssum, red wax begonia and Martha Washington geraniums, which have returned even though they are considered annuals here in Portland, OR.

I’ve had to cut most of the bee balm back, but it has a bunch of new growth and should bloom again in the fall. Once the crocosmia behind it starts to brown I’ll cut it down to the ground for the winter. Alan planted the red and yellow roses last fall.

I moved some of these hostas and removed some that were stippled and planted a pair of 'Cherry Berry' hostas at the top of the stairs. You can see that work done on Alan's Front Yard June 26.

 Most all of the pots have done well, like this sweet potato vine.

I found this little critter crawling on the same potted plant. I was thrilled and wondered if it was one I unleashed on Ladybugs Attack: Part 2.

This pot on the front porch, with Tradescantia ‘Purple Heart’ as a trailer, Strobilanthus dyeranus 'Persian Shield' and impatiens as filler, has turned out to be quite the eye catcher.

These pots that lined the steps to the front porch have faired well, impatiens really thrive in this shady environment. The large pot contians a 'Gryphon' begonia, asparagus fern and impatiens.

The oxalis didn’t fair well in this pot, even though it is in complete shade.

Alan’s dog Cooper is telling me it’s time to go.

Next time we’ll check up on Alan’s backyard.